Therapy
In a new clinical study, researchers have demonstrated unprecedented rates of recovery for spinal cord injuries in patients with upper-limb impairment using an approach called closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation (CLV). In the study, individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury safely received a combination of stimulation of a nerve in the neck - the vagus nerve [...]
When a neuron in our body gets damaged, segments of RNA produce proteins that can help repair the injury. But in neurological disorders such as ALS and spinal muscular atrophy, or following spinal cord injuries, the mechanisms for moving life-essential RNA to injured sites within the cell fail. As a result, RNA molecules can’t get [...]
After more than half a century, assessment of traumatic brain injuries is getting an overhaul. A new framework has been proposed that clinicians say will lead to more accurate diagnoses and treatment, providing more rigorous care for some patients and preventing premature discussions about halting life support in others. Trauma centres in the US will begin [...]
Patients and staff at a charity which looks after people with complex mental health needs have taken the ‘Co-production Pledge’ to ensure patients have an equal say in their care. The pledge – which everyone at St Andrew’s Healthcare is being urged to take - has been created as part of the hospital’s Co-production Framework [...]
A new study has compared inflammation and brain stress responses in Long-Covid patients for the first time, with individuals who have fully recovered. The results show that those with continued brain fog and other cognitive issues have a lower ability to adapt to stress and higher levels of inflammation in their brains. While previous Long-Covid studies have [...]
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term neurological disability worldwide.1,2 One in four adults will experience a stroke and closer to one in three will have some form of acquired brain injury (including stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumours). By Nick Ward, Professor of Clinical Neurology and Neurorehabilitation at Queen Square Two-thirds of people experiencing [...]
By Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist at PJ Care, Estefania Triguero Throughout my 15-year career in neurorehabilitation, understanding a patient as a unique individual has always been key. Whether they have a neurological condition or an acquired brain injury caring for that individual requires a compassionate, holistic and person-centred approach. A patient’s family and friends typically play [...]
In a health system often focused on treating illness rather than supporting recovery, Professor Louise Connell is making rehabilitation impossible to ignore. A clinical academic physiotherapist and Professor of Allied Health Rehabilitation at Lancaster University and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Professor Connell has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of research [...]
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) editing has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases. As these diseases continue to impose a significant global health burden, the innovative use of mitochondrial gene editing offers a promising avenue to address their underlying causes. The dysfunction of mitochondria, triggered by mutations in mtDNA, is now recognised [...]
While there are currently biomarkers that have been identified for depression, they are not generally reliable and have, so far, not been widely applied in clinical use. Now, researchers have identified what could be the first reliable biomarker for the condition - potentially transforming its diagnosis and treatment. The brain uses networks to coordinate its [...]
